Collar With A Sewn-In Hood

ABSTRACT

A flexible head covering which includes a hood portion having an exterior surface and an interior surface configured to cover the top, sides, and back of a human head. The hood portion includes an elongate pocket defining a leading edge thereof, and having a drawstring threaded therethrough. Defining the bottom edge of the hood portion, provided is a collar portion which includes an elongate band having a stiffening device threaded therethrough, affixed thereto, or integrated therein, and a closure device configured to releasably engage the collar portion around the user&#39;s neck.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present invention claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/807,466, filed Apr. 2, 2013, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to head coverings. More particularly, the present invention relates to a collar having a sewn-in hood, designed to be worn separately from a garment covering the torso and/or arms.

2. Description of Related Art

People sometimes want the look, feel, and protection that the hood part of a “Hoodie” provides without having to wear the torso section of the “Hoodie.” In other words, they want to cover their neck and head, but leave the rest of their body as is.

An example of this is when a person wants protection from inclement weather for their neck and head only. The wearer, however, does not want to cover their arms or torso. A traditional “Hoodie” may restrict an athlete's movements, may be too hot and cumbersome, or not fit the rest of their outfit.

Previous detachable hood garments are designed so the user can wear the torso section of the garment alone, not the hood section alone. These detached hoods are not functionally designed to wear as a hood alone. As a result, they don't securely attach around the wearer's neck and are not weighted properly to confidently stay on the wearer's head.

People sometimes want the look, feel, and protection that the hood part of a “Hoodie” provides without having to wear the torso section of the “Hoodie” that covers their mid-section too.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention attempts to address the aforementioned issues by providing a collar with a sewn-in hood designed to be worn around the head and neck alone, and that is preferably unattached to any garment covering the neck or arms.

Particularly, provided is a flexible head covering which includes a hood portion having an exterior surface and an interior surface configured to cover the top, sides, and back of a human head. The hood portion includes an elongate pocket defining a leading edge thereof and having a drawstring threaded therethrough. Defining the bottom edge of the hood portion, provided is a collar portion which includes an elongate band having a stiffening device threaded therethrough, affixed thereto, or integrated therein, and a closure device configured to releasably engage the collar portion around the user's neck.

The collar with a sewn-in hood is specifically designed to be worn around the head and neck separately from a garment which may cover the shoulders, torso or arms. In a non-limiting embodiment, the total weight of the collar portion may exceed the total weight of the hood portion.

Particularly, in a preferred, but non-limiting embodiment, the weight of a front portion of the collar designed to lay forward of a user's neck exceeds the weight of the hood portion of the head covering, such that the hood can be withdrawn from the user's head and allowed to fall backward without the neck portion being pulled toward the user's throat.

The exterior surface of the hood portion and/or collar portion may be made of a different material than that of the interior surface thereof. In a preferred non-limiting embodiment, the exterior surface may be made of a water-resistant fabric while the interior surface may be made of a non-abrasive fabric.

The closure device of the collar portion may comprise, but is not limited to, a zipper snaps, a button and button hole, magnets, or any combination thereof. The closure device may comprise at least two corresponding components, each sewn into, or otherwise affixed to, an end portion of the collar.

The stiffening device may comprise one of the following devices: a flexible tube having a supple rope threaded therethrough, a micro bead-filled plastic liner, a layer of fabric sewn within the pocket, or any combination thereof.

The stiffening device may be permanently sewn within the elongate pocket of the collar portion, or, in an alternative embodiment, be removably threaded therein. Either or both of the stiffening device and the elongate pocket may be continuous or segmented along the bottom edge of the hood portion.

In a preferred, non-limiting embodiment, the stiffening device may comprise an elongate heating element. The heating element may, for example, be a plug-in electronic heater, be battery operated, or may comprise a disposable or reusable chemical heating pack.

In yet another preferred, non-limiting embodiment, the stiffening device may comprise an elongate electric neck massaging device such as a curved, elongate vibrator. In a particularly desirable embodiment, this feature may be combined with the above-described heating element.

In another preferred, non-limiting embodiment, the stiffening device may comprise a music playing device such as a radio, an MP3 player, and/or one or more speakers. The music playing device may alternatively or additionally be a processor configured to stream data, wired or wirelessly, from a mobile device such as a cell phone.

These and other features and characteristics of the present invention, as well as the methods of operation and functions of the related elements of structures and the combination of parts and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of the following description and the appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, all of which form a part of this specification, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in the various figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. As used in the specification and the claims, the singular form of “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a head covering 100 draped over a user 117 in accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a stiffening device in accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For purposes of the description hereinafter, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “right”, “left”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “top”, “bottom”, “lateral”, “longitudinal” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as it is oriented in the drawing figures. However, it is to be understood that the invention may assume various alternative variations and step sequences, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification, are simply exemplary embodiments of the invention. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics related to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a head covering 100 draped over a user 117 in accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention. The head covering includes a hood portion 101 having an exterior surface 103 and an interior surface 105. In the embodiment shown, the hood portion comprises two layers of fabric, and with the layer forming the interior surface 105 being a darker color and the layer forming the exterior surface 103 being a lighter color. In the non-limiting embodiment shown, the exterior surface also includes an ornamental device 115.

An elongate pocket 107 is provided defining a leading edge 108 of the hood portion 101 and housing a drawstring 109 which is threaded therethrough. The drawstring 109 may be utilized to tighten or loosen the leading edge 108 of the hood portion 101 around the user's face 117.

The head covering further comprises a collar portion 110 which, in the embodiment shown, is sewn to the hood portion 101 and defines a bottom edge 106 thereof.

The collar portion comprises an elongate band 111 which comprises multiple layers of fabric between which a stiffening device 200 (not shown) may be threaded, which is preferably flexible, but not rigid, such that the collar lays flat on the user's neck whether the hood is drawn over the user's head or let hang over the user's back. The front portion 119 of the collar portion 110 may be weighted either integrally or via the stiffening device, such that the front portion is not pulled toward the user's neck when the hood portion is allowed to drape over the user's back.

The front portion 119 of the collar portion 110 includes a closure device 113. In the embodiment shown, the closure device 113 is a zipper, with corresponding sides of the zipper being included on a right portion 112 and a left portion 114 of the front portion 119 of the collar portion 110. However, other configurations including snaps, magnets, buttons, or other known fastening devices are envisioned to be within the spirit of the present invention.

In preferred non-limiting embodiments, the stiffening device 200 may be integral to the elongate band, may be permanently sewn therein, or may be removably threaded therethrough.

FIG. 2 shows a stiffening device 200 in accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention. The embodiment shown is designed to be threaded between two layers of the elongate band 111 of the collar portion 110 of the head covering 100. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the stiffening device comprises a flexible tube 202 with a supple cord 204 threaded therethrough. The left end 206 and the right end 208 of the flexible tube 202 may be weighted such that the front portion 119 of the collar portion 110 naturally hangs forward of the user's neck, and resists being pulled backward when the hood portion is allowed to drape over the user's back.

This invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments. Obvious modifications and alterations will occur to others upon reading and understanding the preceding detailed description. It is intended that the invention be construed as including all such modifications and alterations. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A flexible head covering, comprising: a hood portion having an exterior surface and an interior surface adapted to cover the top, sides, and back of a human head; an elongate pocket defining a leading edge of the hood portion and having a drawstring threaded therethrough; and a collar portion defining a bottom edge of the hood portion, the collar portion comprising: an elongate band defining the bottom edge of the hood portion and having a stiffening device threaded therethrough, affixed thereto, or integrated therein; and a closure device adapted to releasably engage the collar portion around a user's neck.
 2. The head covering of claim 1, wherein the total weight of the collar portion is greater than the total weight of the hood portion.
 3. The head covering of claim 1, wherein the weight of a front portion of the collar designed to lay forward of a user's neck exceeds the weight of the hood portion such that the hood portion can be withdrawn from the user's head and allowed to fall backward without the neck portion being pulled toward the user's throat.
 4. The head covering of claim 1, wherein the exterior surface comprises a first material and the interior surface comprises a second material.
 5. The head covering of claim 4, wherein the first material comprises a water resistant fabric, and the second material comprises a non-abrasive fabric.
 6. The head covering of claim 1, wherein the closure device comprises at least one of the following: a zipper, snaps, a button and button hole, magnets, or any combination thereof.
 7. The head covering of claim 1, wherein the stiffening device comprises at least one of the following: a flexible tube having a supple rope threaded therethrough, a micro bead-filled plastic liner, a layer of fabric, or any combination thereof.
 8. The head covering of claim 1, wherein the stiffening device comprises at least one of the following: an elongate heating element comprising a plug-in electric heater, a battery operated electric heater, a disposable or reusable chemical heating pack, or any combination thereof.
 9. The head covering of claim 1, wherein the stiffening device comprises an electric neck-massaging device.
 10. The head covering of claim 1, wherein the stiffening device comprises a music playing device, a speaker, or any combination thereof.
 11. The head covering of claim 1, wherein the head covering is unattached to a garment covering the arms, torso, or shoulders of a user. 